KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan senior captain Jason Polin recorded his second straight hat trick as the WMU hockey team swept Miami after a 5-2 win on Saturday night at Lawson Ice Arena.
 
Polin also had two assists to have a hand in all five goals and a career-high five points. Sophomore forward Max Sasson had three assists and a goal for a four-point night and freshman forward Ryan McAllister completed his weekend with six total assists after another three. Cameron Rowe continued his strong play in net, making 24 saves to pick up his sixth win of the season for the Broncos (7-4-0, 2-0-0 NCHC). Junior defenseman Daniel Hilsendager also scored his first goal of the season.
 
Polin gave WMU a lead later on in the first period. The puck went behind the MU net and McAllister won a race to it to poke it to Polin, who slid the puck past Ludwig Persson on the wraparound for his seventh goal of the season. McAllister tallied his team-leading 12th assist of the season on the goal.
 
The RedHawks tied it up at 1-1 early in the second period on a goal by Red Savage. Savage was parked in the slot and Hampus Rydqvist dished the puck to him to redirect past Rowe.
 
WMU responded 1:19 later on Polin's second of the night. This time the goal came in transition with Sasson throwing it across to ice to McAllister and McAllister finding Polin charging the net to put it in, giving Western Michigan the lead.
 
Polin completed his hat trick at 7:40 in the second period, but the initial shot was ruled off the cross bar. McAllister and Sasson, again, picked up the assists on the goal. Play went on for nearly two minutes before a stoppage allowed the referees to review the shot and award the goal.
 
Hilsendager extended the lead to 4-1 at 8:35 in the third period. Hilsendager got the puck from Sasson in the slot and fired a shot that was saved but then punched in the rebound. Sasson tallied his 10th assist of the season and Polin picked up his sixth.
 
The RedHawks cut the lead to two at 11:35 on a power play goal by Alex Kumlin from the left point.
 
Polin blocked a shot in the WMU zone and raced for the puck with Miami's net empty late in the game. Polin then passed it over to Sasson for the empty-netter and Sasson's fifth goal of the season to make it 5-2.
 
Western Michigan heads on the road for the first time in NCHC play, taking on St. Cloud State next Friday and Saturday. Both games can be watched live on NCHC.tv and heard live on the Bronco Media Network.